User-portable deployable RFID device and system

Abstract

A user-portable deployable RFID device including a battery, a battery charging device connected to the battery, and an RFID reader connected to the battery configured to receive a locating signal from an RFID tag, a modem is connected to the RFID reader, the modem is configured to receive tag position data from the RFID reader and to transmit the tag position data, an antenna is connected to one or more of the RFID reader and the modem. A method of tracking a position of an entity within an entity area and a system for tracking the position of an entity within an area are also provided.

1. A method of tracking a position of at least one entity within an entity area, the method comprising:
 providing at least one deployable RFID device, the at least one deployable RFID device comprising:
 a battery; 
 an RFID reader connected to the battery configured to receive a locating signal; and 
 at least one modem connected to the RFID reader; 
 
 providing at least one active RFID tag; 
 connecting the at least one active RFID tag to the at least one entity; 
 deploying the at least one deployable RFID device as a first deployable RFID device and a second deployable RFID device within the entity area; 
 transmitting a tag locating signal from the at least one active RFID tag; 
 receiving the tag locating signal from the at least one active RFID tag with the RFID reader of the at least one RFID device; 
 based on the tag locating signal determining a position of the RFID tag relative to the at least one RFID device to generate tag position data; 
 transmitting a RFID device locating signal from the first deployable RFID device; 
 receiving the RFID device locating signal from the first deployable RFID device with the second deployable RFID device; and 
 determining a position of the first deployable RFID device relative to the second RFID device based on the RFID device locating signal received from the first deployable RFID device with the second deployable RFID device. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising
 providing a server system; 
 determining the position of the RFID tag relative to the at least one RFID device to generate the tag position data using the RFID reader; and 
 transmitting the tag position data to at least one of the server system and another of the at least one RFID device using the at least one modem. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining the position of the RFID tag comprises at least determining the distance of the RFID tag from the at least one deployable RFID device, and the method further comprising transmitting an indicating signal from the at least one deployable RFID device to the RFID tag when the RFID tag exceeds a predetermined distance from the at least one deployable RFID device. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting the at least one active RFID tag to the at least one entity comprises connecting the at least one active RFID tag to at least one user, and wherein the deploying of the at least one deployable RFID device comprises carrying and positioning of the at least one deployable RFID device by the at least one user. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing the at least one deployable RFID device with a battery charging device connected to the battery; 
 providing the at least one deployable RFID device with an enclosure connected to and enclosing the battery, the RFID reader, the battery charging device, and the at least one modem; 
 connecting a power supply to the battery charger; and 
 charging the battery with the battery charger. 
 
     
     
       6. A method of tracking a position of at least one entity within an entity area, the method comprising:
 providing a server system; 
 providing at least one deployable RFID device, the at least one deployable RFID device comprising:
 a battery; 
 an RFID reader connected to the battery configured to receive a locating signal; and 
 at least one modem connected to the RFID reader; 
 
 providing at least one active RFID tag; 
 connecting the at least one active RFID tag to the at least one entity; 
 deploying the at least one deployable RFID device as a plurality of deployable RFID devices within the entity area; 
 transmitting a tag locating signal from the at least one active RFID tag; 
 receiving the tag locating signal from the at least one active RFID tag with the RFID reader of the at least one RFID device; 
 based on the tag locating signal determining a position of the RFID tag relative to the at least one RFID device to generate tag position data; and 
 relaying the tag position data of the RFID tag from a first one of the plurality of RFID devices through at least a second one of the plurality of RFID devices to the server system, wherein the tag position data comprises at least a distance measurement from the RFID tag to the first one of the plurality of RFID devices. 
 
     
     
       7. A method of tracking a position of at least one entity within an entity area, the method comprising:
 providing at least one server system; 
 providing at least one deployable RFID device, the at least one deployable RFID device comprising:
 a battery; 
 an RFID reader connected to the battery configured to receive a locating signal; and 
 at least one modem connected to the RFID reader; 
 
 providing at least one active RFID tag; 
 connecting the at least one active RFID tag to the at least one entity; 
 deploying the at least one deployable RFID device as a first deployable RFID device, a second deployable RFID device, and a third deployable RFID device within the entity area; 
 transmitting a tag locating signal from the at least one active RFID tag; 
 receiving the tag locating signal from the at least one active RFID tag with the RFID reader of the at least one RFID device; 
 based on the tag locating signal determining a position of the RFID tag relative to the at least one RFID device to generate tag position data; 
 transmitting a RFID device locating signal from the first deployable RFID device using the at least one modem of the first deployable RFID device; 
 receiving the RFID device locating signal from the first deployable RFID device with the second deployable RFID device using the at least one modem of the second deployable RFID device; 
 determining a position of the first deployable RFID device relative to the second RFID device based on the RFID device locating signal received from the first deployable RFID device with the second deployable RFID device to generate RFID device position data; and 
 relaying the RFID device position data of the first deployable RFID device from the second deployable RFID device through the third deployable RFID device to the at least one server system. 
 
     
     
       8. A method of tracking a position of at least one entity within an entity area, the method comprising:
 providing at least one deployable RFID device, the at least one deployable RFID device comprising:
 a battery; 
 an RFID reader connected to the battery configured to receive a locating signal; and 
 at least one modem connected to the RFID reader; 
 
 providing at least one active RFID tag; 
 connecting the at least one active RFID tag to the at least one entity; 
 deploying the at least one deployable RFID device as a plurality of deployable RFID devices comprising a first deployable RFID device, a second deployable RFID device, and a third deployable RFID device within the entity area; 
 transmitting a tag locating signal from the at least one active RFID tag; 
 receiving the tag locating signal from the at least one active RFID tag with the RFID reader of the first deployable RFID device, the second deployable RFID device and the third deployable RFID device; and 
 based on the tag locating signal, determining a position of the RFID tag relative to the first deployable RFID device, the second deployable RFID device and the third deployable RFID device. 
 
     
     
       9. A method of tracking a position of at least one entity within an entity area, the method comprising:
 providing at least one deployable RFID device, the at least one deployable RFID device comprising:
 a battery; 
 an RFID reader connected to the battery configured to receive a locating signal; and 
 at least one modem connected to the RFID reader; 
 
 providing at least one active RFID tag; 
 connecting the at least one active RFID tag to the at least one entity; 
 deploying the at least one deployable RFID device within the entity area; 
 transmitting a tag locating signal from the at least one active RFID tag; 
 receiving the tag locating signal from the at least one active RFID tag with the RFID reader of the at least one RFID device; and 
 based on the tag locating signal determining a position of the RFID tag relative to the at least one RFID device to generate tag position data; 
 wherein the providing the at least one deployable RFID device comprises providing at least three deployable RFID devices, wherein the determining the position of the RFID tag comprises triangulating the position of the RFID tag relative to the at least three deployable RFID devices, and the method further comprises transmitting an indicating signal to the at least one active RFID tag when the RFID tag moves outside of a predetermined two-dimensional area.